Poration



April 17, 1928. 1,666,714

c. F. MERRILL SPINNING RING TRAVELER inal Filed March 25. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1 Fi .4:

Charles F. Mervin byzwa Wa W Anya.

Am-i117, 192s. 1,666,714

C. F. MERRILL SPINNING RING TRAVELER,

inal Filed March 25. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8. I Fig.9.

lnvenYon Charles F. Merrill bym v ATTys.

Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I. MERRILL, 0F HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATIQN 0] MAINE.

SPINNING-RING TRAVELER.

Original application filed March 25, 1926, Serial No.

. 1927. Serial This invention relates to the traveler for a ring spinning mechanism.

A great deal of engineering ability and inventive talent has been devoted to the construction of the cooperating ring and traveler in this type of ring spinning mechanism, but this mechanism is still far from perfect in operation, largely owing to uneven and often rapidly destructive wear of the contacting surfaces of the ring and traveler resulting in limitations as to uniformity, continuity and lineness of the product.

In general practice the ring of this type of spinning mechanism is flanged at its top to present a general I or T shape in radial cross section and the traveler is of general C shape, thus presenting two horns and an intermediate how. The traveler may vary in its shape of cross section, but is usually either circular or more preferably substantially rectangular with the longer dimension presented to the ring and the present invention has to do with the latter type. The traveler is also preferably symmetrical with respect to its vertical axis so that either part of the traveler may cooperate with the ring and thus enable the operative to place the traveler, which is quite a tiny device, on the ring without having to trouble to ascertain which side of the traveler is to cooperate with the ring.

During the spinning operation certain irregularities of the movement of the traveler develop due to two major causes: (1) sliding metallic contact, at high rates of speed, of the bearing surface of the traveler against the inner bearing surfaces of the ring flange, usually without perceptible 1nbrication, thus inducing wear and abrasion of the surfaces: (2) an unstable position assumed by the traveler, as a resultant of a number of different forces to which it is subjected in its travel, with reference to its bearing against the ring. The resultant of the several of these forces usually causes the traveler to stand oblique or inclined with respect to a radius of the ring and the path of revolution of the traveler, and also oblique or inclined with respect to the vertical plane of this radius, and also oblique 97,242. Divided and this application filed July 12, No. 205,213.

or inclined with respect to the vertical axis of revolution. l urthermore, the point where the yarn passes about the traveler is usually well above the center of the contacting bearing surfaces of the traveler and ring and often above the ring itself, resulting in an unbalanced or unstable relation which tends toward uneven motion or chattering whenever there is any slight inequality in the materialor surface of the portion of the ring traversed by the traveler, or whenever there are other causes tending to increase or lessen the frictional resistances to motion at different positions in the progress of the traveler around the ring. It will be understood that the traveler when running is held by centrifugal force against the inner bearing surfaces of the ring and in opposition to the pull of the yarn which runs tangentially from the bobbin in a horizontal direction through the traveler and then balloons upwardly from the traveler through the thread eye directly above the bobbin. The various forces acting on the traveler tend to give the traveler the peculiar obliquity of position referred to.

Heretofore in practice the spinning operation results in a very marked abrasion or wear of the traveler at the surfaces where the traveler contacts with the ring. This means (1) that the area of the bearing surfaces of the traveler in contact with the ring is varying from a relatively small area to a relatively large area as the wear proceeds, the traveler at the beginning of the opera tion perhaps contacting only along a line and finally wearing down until it contacts substantially throughout its width with the ring; (2) that the cross section of the traveler is gradually and steadily weakened, resulting in the destruction of the traveler; (3) that the weight and position of the traveler varies during the operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a traveler constructed so that the bearing surfaces of the traveler will substantially conform to the opposed bearing surfaces of the ring when the traveler is running under normal conditions. Thus any wear taking place is reduced to the minimum and occurs with substantial uniformity over the entire width of the bearing surfaces of the traveler, and consequently such wear has no material. effect upon the weight or position of the traveler; the life of the traveler is 'inaterially increased; and the efficiency of the spinning operation is greatly improved, I

It is the object of the invention to provide a construction of traveler which will. assume, when running under a. given set of conditions, the normal angle of inclination with relation to the ring and at the same time have its bearing surfaces in contact With the ring bearing surfaces over the largest possible portion oi their availahle area. These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be part cularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention disclosedin connection with two specific forms of traveler, namely a traveler of the ordinary shape in which the bow is generally circular and the horns sub stantially horizontal and a traveler of a novel constrijiction shown i u my Patent lflo. l,6O l,929, granted October 26, 1926. The 1nvention is also disclosed in connection with hoththe symmetrical and the non-symmetrical types 0;: traveler. But it is obvious that the invention is applicable to a Wide variety Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of a ring with the traveler constructed as in 1 to-4 in running position on the ring. 2

Fig. 6 is view in perspective of the con struction shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 1s a view in radial cross section of a portion of a ring with the traveler of the type shown in my aforesaid patent, but embodying the present invention, in running position on the'ringf Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofthe traveler shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal cross section of the traveler taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a portion of a ring with the traveler constructed as in Figs. 7 to 9 in running position on the ring. Fig 11 is a vertical elevation of a non symmetrical traveler of the type shown in Figs. 3. to 6.

Fig. 192; is a vertical elevation of a non.

Leeann symmetrical traveler shown'in Figs. 7 to 10.

As already explained, it is found in practice that the horn and adjacent portion of the bow ofa traveler of the ordinary com-- mercial type which bear against the inner 7813i iheral bearin surfaces of the rind flange gradually Wear away and that ifthe traveler is reversed, similar wear. takes place at the opposite side.

gins at one edge of its inner periphery and gradually extends across the inner face or hearing surface, thus gradually increasin the area of contact between the traveler an. ring and consequently changing the running conditions and also cutting through the cross section of the traveler and. weakening 1 the traveler until, as not infrequently happens, thehorn breaks oil and the traveler is. 1

rendered useless.

As already pointed out, 111 the present invention the traveler is constructed in the first that the traveler of this invention is con strncted so that its bearing surfaces assume at the outset the general character occasioned as the result of wear with the ordinary travi elel', while maintaining uniform the cross section of, and the width of bearing-surface of. the traveler.

The principle of the invention. and a preferred form is first disclosedin connection with the old type of traveler.

A traveler embodying the present invention of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 7 is a piece of metal of uniform cross sect-ion throughout, this cross section being preferably substantially rectangular, as seen in the cross sections of Figs. Qand 4. The central bow section 1 of the traveler which is that portion of the traveler, the inner surface of which does not contact with therin under normal running conditions, is usually and preferably of circular arcuate form and is cylindrical in shape. The horns 3 and 4 and the how sections 5 and 6 are shaped so that their inner surfaces fit against and conform to the bearing surfaces of the ring against which these portions of the traveler bear whenthe' traveler is running under normal conditions at a normal angle of inclination to the ring. lVhcn, as is usual and desirable, the traveler is symmetrical with respectto its vertical ZLXlS,tl1G bearing surface of the traveler at each side or the surface of each horn andadjacent bow section that bears on the ring are of a helicoidal type with a hell-- cal angle corresponding to the normal angle of inclination ofthe traveler when running under the prescribed conditions These heli- It will be understood, therefore, that the wear of the traveler becoidal surfacesmay be considered as generated by a line, such as 7 (see Fig. 6), which bounds the radial cross section of that portion of the ring flange 8 upon which the inner surface of the traveler is to hear when this line, in forming the helicoidal surface, is maintained at an angle to the helicoidal axis corresponding to .the normal angle of inclination of the traveler when running. In order to secure this result and maintain the uniform cross section of the traveler, the horns 3 and at and the bow sections and (i adjacentthe horns diverge away from the central plane of the traveler in opposite directions and also away from the central vertical axis 9 of the traveler in opposite directions, as illustrated, and consequently conform to the bearing surfaces of the ring against which those portions of the traveler hear when the traveler is running under normal conditions at a normal angle of inelination to'the ring.

It will thus be seen that the traveler has a uniform cross section throughout its length, has flat inner bearing surfaces, has the medial line 1()10, (see Fig. 3), of the central section of the bow lying in a plane. has the bearing surface of each horn and the adjacent bow section conforming substantially to the inner peripheral bearing surfaces of the ring against which the traveler bears when the traveler is running at a normal angle of inclination to the ring, and has the medial lines 11 of these bearing surfaces of the horns and adjacent bow sections presenting the same angle to the plane of the central bow section as the normal angle of inclination of the traveler to the ring.

Thus a traveler embodying this invention when running under normal conditions at a normal angle of inclination to the ring has its horn and adjacent bow section fitting snugly against the bearing surface of the ring flange with the full width of the hearing surfaces of the traveler in engagement with those of the ring, subject only to the very slight curvature of the ring because of its circular form, a feature which is immediately taken care of by a very slight amount of wear. The traveler is shown in its normal position running on the ring in Figs. 5 and 6.

Figs. 7 to 10 of the drawing illustrate the embodiment of the invention in a traveler of the form made the subject of the patent above referred to and the application of the invention to this form of traveler will be apparent.

In this construction the web 12 of the ring has a flange 13 of a somewhat square shape with the inner peripheral bearing surfaces of the ring converging and preferably at substantially equal angles to the horizontal. The lower bearing surface 14 is preferably frusto-conical and the upper bearing surface 15 convex. The yarn l6 acts as a slight separating medium between the upper hearing surface 15 and the opposed section of the traveler. V

The traveler comprises the centralbow section 17, preferably of circulararcuate shape, the horns 18 and the bow sections 19 adjacent the horns which are preferably prolongations of the curve of the central bow section. The horns and these adjacent bow sections present the inner bearing surfaces which engage or come opposite the bearing surfaces 14 and 15 of the ring.

In this construction the central bow section 12 is also of a cylindrical shape, while the bow sections 19 and the horns 18 have their inner surfaces conforming to the inner bearing surfaces of the ring against or opposite which they travel when the traveler is running at a normal angle of inclination with respect to the ring. These surfaces, that. is, the surface of the horn and adjacent bow section at each side, are therefore of the helicoidal type with a helical angle corresponding to the normal angle of inclination of the traveler when running under the prescribed conditions and may be considered as generated by a line which bounds the radial cross section of that portion of the. ring upon which the inner surface of the traveler bears or comes opposite when this line in forming the helieoidal surface is maintained at an angle to the helicoidal axis corresponding to the said normal angle of inclination of the traveler. The traveler embodying this form of the invention is shown in position on the ring in Figs. 7 and 1.0.

The travelers, the construction of which has thus far been illustrated and described, are of the preferred symmetrical form, but the invention in its broader aspects is applicable to the construction of travelers of the non-synnnetrical form. In a traveler of such fOl'lX'l, of course, care must be taken to place the traveler correctly in position on the ring.

In Fig. 11 the traveler is, except for the non-symmetrical feature, of the type first described. In this case the central bow section 20 is of the san'ie circular, arcuate, cylindrical shape. The horns 21 and the adjacent bow sections 22 are shaped as already described, except that they are not symmetrical with respect to the axes of the ring. Such a traveler when properly placed upon the ring will run in precisely the same manner and the same position as the traveler already described, but it requires to be properly placed, whereas the travelers already described may be placed in position either way upon the ring.

The construction of traveler shown in Fig. 12 is also of the non-syn'nnetrical type, but otherwise of the type shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the horns 23 and the adjacent bow sec tions Bl being non-symmetrical with respect to the axes of the ring. This construction and its manner of use will be understood without further explanation.

It will thus be seen that in all the cases illustrated the broad principle of construction is the same and by reason thereof the traveler, when in normal running position on the ring, will have that portion out its inner surface opposite the ring in bearingengagerueut with the ring throughout its entire width thus insuring a minimum of wear and a perfection of hearing cooperation llQi W ly helicoidal at an angle to the central howsection corresponding to the normal angle oi" inclinationof the traveler when running.

2. A spinning ring traveler halving the construction defined in claim 1 in which the medial line of the bearing surfaces of the said horns and how sections adjacent the horns presents the same angle to the central how section.

3. A spinning ring traveler of uniform cross section having a flat inner hearingsurface, the bearing surface of each horn and ot' the bow section adjacent thereto contorn'iing to the inner surfaces of the ring against which said traveler bears when the traveler is running at a normal angle of inclination to the ring. a

4. A spinning ring traveler of uniform cross section having a flat inner bearingsurface, having the medial line of the central section of the bow lying in a plane and hav ing the bearing surface of each horn and the adjacent section of theloow lying in a helicoidal surface such as would be generated by the line bounding a radial cross section of the ring upon Wl'llCll the traveler bears when this line is maintained at an angle to the helicoidal. axis corresponding to the normal angle of inclination oi the traveler when running.

5. A spinning ringtraveler of uniform cross section having a flat inner bearingsuw lace, having its central how section cylindrical and the bearing surfaces of the horns and bow sections adjacent the horns extending obliquely at an angle to the central bow section corresponding to the normal angle of inclination of the traveler when running.

(5. A spinning ring traveler having the constructimi defined in claim 5 in which the medial. line'oi the hearing surfaces of the said horns and bow sections adjacent the horns presents the same angle to the central how section.

7. A spinning ring traveler of uniform cross section having a flat inner hearing surface, the hearingsurtaceot at least one of the horns and of the how section adjacent thereto conforming to the inner surfaces of the ring against which said traveler hears when the traveler is running at a normal angle of inclination to the ring with the said horn and bow section adjacent thereto cooperating with the ring.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. 

